~BETRAYAL AND ABDUCTION~

~For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms~

- Ephesians 6:12

Song - That's not how this works by Charlie Puth ft Dan + Shay

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Aubrey was the star player of his team, so everyone expected him to lead them to victory. But as he stepped onto the court for the big game, he couldn't shake off the feeling of unease.

His mind was preoccupied with thoughts of Sophie. Where was she? Was she okay? He tried to focus on the game, but his heart wasn't in it.

Sophie, was supposed to be in the stands, cheering him on. But she was nowhere to be found. Aubrey had tried calling her, but she wasn't answering. He had sent her texts, but she hadn't replied.

She's probably at the pizza palace, he thought.

As the game began, Aubrey's performance was lackluster. He missed passes, stumbled over his own feet, and failed to score. His teammates were getting frustrated with him, and the coach was yelling at him from the sidelines.

"Aubrey, get your head back in the game!" Coach Harrison shouted. "You're not even trying out there!"

Aubrey knew the coach was right. He needed to focus. He took a deep breath and tried to clear his mind. He visualized Sophie in the stands, cheering him on. He imagined the feeling of her hand in his, her smile on her face.

Just then, he saw his mom walk into the stands, a big smile on her face. She was wearing his lucky jersey, the one with his name and number on it, and she had a big sign that read "Go Aubrey!"

Aubrey's heart swelled with pride and love as he saw his mom's enthusiastic support. He felt a surge of energy and determination, and he knew that he had to make his mom proud.

Aubrey's mom spotted him on the field and waved wildly, her sign bobbing up and down. Aubrey grinned and waved back, feeling a sense of connection and motivation. He took a deep breath, visualized the ball going into the net, and charged forward with renewed energy and focus.

Slowly but surely, Aubrey started to get his head back in the game. He began to play with more confidence, more passion. He made some great passes, scored a few goals, and helped his team gain the upper hand.

As the game neared its end, Aubrey's team was winning by a landslide. The crowd was cheering, and Aubrey's teammates were high-fiving him.

But despite the excitement of the game, Aubrey's mind was still on Sophie. Where was she? Was she okay?

Sophie was outside the stadium, trying to make her way through the crowds of cheering fans. She dodged and weaved, her eyes fixed on the entrance to the court.

"Excuse me... Sorry... Coming through," she muttered, as she pushed her way through the throngs of people.

Despite the chaos and noise around her, Sophie's expression was serene, her eyes calm and determined. She was focused on getting to Aubrey, on congratulating him on his win, because she knew he'd definitely win. She also wanted to find out what had happened during the game.

But as she turned a corner, Sophie's progress was halted by a familiar figure. Alex, was standing in front of her.

"Sophie, wait," Alex said, reaching out to grab her arm.

Sophie tried to ignore him, tried to brush past him and continue on her way. But Alex held her back, his grip firm.

"I need to talk to you," Alex said, his voice low and urgent. "It's important."

Sophie sighed, feeling a surge of frustration and annoyance. She didn't want to talk to Alex, didn't want to deal with his drama and emotions. But Alex's grip on her arm was firm, and she knew she couldn't just walk away.

"What is it, Alex?" Sophie asked impatiently.

Alex hesitated, his eyes searching hers. Sophie raised an eyebrow, feeling a sense of unease and trepidation.

As the final whistle blew, Aubrey's team erupted in cheers. They had won the game, and Aubrey had played a crucial role in their victory.

"Yes!" they boomed, their voices echoing off the walls of the stadium. The team rushed the court, hugging each other and jumping up and down in celebration.

Aubrey's teammates lifted him onto their shoulders, cheering and chanting his name. "MVP! MVP!" they shouted, as Aubrey grinned from ear to ear, basking in the adoration of the crowd.

The stadium was a sea of noise and color, with fans cheering and waving signs. Aubrey's mom was in the stands, beaming with pride and taking photos to capture the moment.

As Aubrey celebrated with his team, he scanned the crowd, searching for Sophie. He had been worried about her all game, and he couldn't wait to see her.

Aubrey's teammates finally put him down, and his mom rushed onto the court, a huge smile on her face. "Aubrey! Oh, sweetie, I'm so proud of you!" she exclaimed, throwing her arms around him in a tight hug.

Aubrey laughed and hugged her back, feeling happy and relieved. "Thanks, Mom! We did it!" he said, grinning from ear to ear.

His mom pulled back and looked at him, her eyes shining with tears. "You were amazing out there, Aubrey. I'm so proud of the person you're becoming, both on and off the court."

Aubrey felt a surge of love and gratitude for his mom. She was now his biggest supporter, and he knew he could always count on her to be there for him.

As they hugged again, Aubrey's teammates started to chant his name, and the crowd began to cheer. Aubrey's mom pulled back and smiled at him. "I think you're being called for an interview, sweetie," she said, nodding towards the reporters and cameras gathered at the side of the court.

Aubrey nodded, taking a deep breath. He was used to doing interviews after games, but he still got a little nervous. He smiled at his mom, and then turned to face the reporters, ready to talk about the game and his team's victory.

"I said let me go!" Sophie said firmly, staring at her hand in Alex's palm.

Alex's eyes locked onto hers, a hint of desperation in his gaze. "Sophie, please, just listen to me," he said, his voice low and urgent.

Sophie's expression remained firm, her jaw set in determination. "I don't want to hear it, Alex," she said, trying to pull her hand free.

But Alex held tight, his fingers wrapping around her wrist like a vice. "You need to know what's going on, Sophie," he said, his eyes burning with intensity. "It's about us, about what happened between us. You deserve to know the truth."

Sophie's eyes flashed with anger, and she tried to jerk her hand free again. "Let me go, Alex!" she repeated, her voice rising.

But Alex held firm, his grip on her wrist unyielding. "Not until you listen to me, Sophie," he said, his voice firm and resolute.

The scene was starting to attract attention, with people passing by beginning to stare. Sophie's face was growing hotter by the second, and she knew she had to get out of there before things escalated further.

Without warning, Alex leaned in, his lips crashing down on Sophie's in a sudden, passionate kiss. The move was unexpected, and Sophie's body stiffened in surprise, her mind racing to process what was happening.

Sophie's eyes flashed with anger as she pushed Alex away, her hands on his chest. "What are you doing?" she demanded, her voice low and furious.

"C'mon baby, it's been so long," Alex dragged, grasping Sophie's hand again.

With a surge of adrenaline, Sophie wrenched her hand free from Alex's grasp and turned to flee. But as she did, she collided with a tall, muscular figure who was walking in the opposite direction.

Aubrey's eyes blazed with anger as he took in the scene. He felt betrayed and hurt, wondering why Sophie did what she did.

So this was the reason she couldn't make it to my game on time? He thought.

Sophie, sensing Aubrey's anger, took a step forward, her hands outstretched. "Aubrey, wait, let me explain..." she began.

But Aubrey wasn't having it. He turned his back on Sophie and started walking away, his long strides eating up the distance.

"Aubrey!" Sophie called out, but he didn't stop.

Emily, who had been watching the scene unfold, looked at Sophie with a mixture of confusion and disappointment. She hesitated for a moment, then followed after Aubrey, leaving Sophie standing alone.

As they walked away, Aubrey's anger and hurt simmered just below the surface.

Arriving home, he tossed his basketball to a corner, exhaling loudly. Emily dropped her car keys on the counter and walked over to Aubrey, concern etched on her face. "You okay?" she asked, her voice soft and gentle.

Aubrey shook his head, not trusting himself to speak. He felt like he'd been punched in the gut, and he couldn't catch his breath.

Emily nodded understandingly and walked over to the fridge, pulling out a bottle of water. "Here, drink this," she said, handing it to Aubrey.

Aubrey took the water, unscrewing the cap and taking a long swig. He felt a little better, but the anger and hurt still simmered inside him.

Emily sat down next to him on the couch, putting a gentle hand on his shoulder. "You wanna talk about what happened?" she asked, her voice low and soothing.

Aubrey hesitated, unsure if he was ready to talk about it. But something about his mom's calm and gentle demeanor put him at ease.

The doorbell rang and Emily got up to answer it. Aubrey's heart sank as he heard Sophie's voice on the other side of the door.

"Aubrey, please, we need to talk," Sophie voiced, her voice laced with desperation.

Emily looked back at Aubrey, who shook his head. "I don't think so, Ma," he said, his voice firm.

But Emily's expression was sympathetic. "Aubrey, maybe you should hear her out," she said gently.

Aubrey's eyes narrowed, but he didn't say anything. Emily stepped aside, allowing Sophie to enter. Sophie's eyes locked onto Aubrey's, and she took a tentative step forward.

"Aubrey, I..." she began, but Aubrey cut her off.

"I don't want to hear it," he said, his voice cold and detached. "Just leave me alone."

He stood up and turned to leave, but Sophie held his arm tightly. "Listen to me, would ya?"

Aubrey's eyes flashed with anger as he tried to shake off Sophie's grip. "Let me go, Sophie," he growled, his voice low and menacing.

But Sophie held tight, her eyes blazing with determination. "No, I won't let you go until you listen to me," she said, her voice rising.

Aubrey's face twisted in disgust. "You think I want to hear your excuses? Your lies?" he spat, his anger boiling over.

"What the fuck did I lie about, Aubrey? I swear, what happened with Alex...it wasn't what it looked like," she said, her voice trembling.

Aubrey's laughter was cold and mirthless. "Save it. I saw what I saw. You and Alex, together. Don't try to spin this, okay?"

Sophie's eyes welled up with tears, but she refused to back down. "You don't understand, Aubrey. You don't know what's been going on," she said, her voice cracking.

"I don't care what's been going on, Sophie. What I care about is that you betrayed my trust," he said, his voice heavy with hurt and anger.

"Why are you making a big deal out of this? You need to stop acting like a jealous nigga!"

The argument hung in the air, the tension between them palpable. Emily, who had been watching the exchange, stepped forward, her voice calm and soothing. "Okay, that's enough. This isn't getting anywhere," she said, her eyes flicking between Aubrey and Sophie.

But Aubrey just shook his head, his eyes never leaving Sophie's face. "I need some space, Ma. Can we just...can we just leave it for now?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Emily nodded, her expression sympathetic. "Of course, sweetie. Let's just take a break, okay?" she said, putting a gentle hand on Aubrey's arm.

As Emily led Aubrey away, Sophie stood alone, her eyes fixed on Aubrey's retreating back. Tears streamed down her face, and she felt like she'd lost him forever.

"Aubrey?"

"Just leave," he responded coldly, without looking back.

Aubrey's response was like a slap in the face. She felt a wave of despair wash over her, and she stumbled backwards, her eyes fixed on the empty space where Aubrey had just been.

The tears streaming down her face seemed to burn her skin, and she felt like she was drowning in her own sorrow.

With a sob, Sophie turned and stumbled out of the house, into the cool evening air. She didn't know where she was going, but she knew she had to get out of there, away from the pain and the heartache.

As Sophie walked in the cool evening, the sun had dipped below the horizon, casting a warm orange glow over the streets. The air was crisp and clean, filled with the scent of blooming flowers and fresh-cut grass. The sound of crickets and rustling leaves provided a soothing background hum, a stark contrast to the turmoil brewing inside Sophie.

She walked aimlessly, her feet carrying her away from the pain and heartache. She pulled out her phone, dialing Aubrey's number, but he didn't answer. She tried again, still no answer. She sighed, and tugged her phone back in her pocket.

"Why do you have to act this way, Aubrey?" she thought to herself.

As she turned a corner, her thoughts were interrupted by a sudden grab on her right arm. Before she could even react, a black sack was pulled over her head, and she felt herself being lifted off the ground.

Sophie struggled and kicked, but her efforts were futile. She was tossed into a van, the doors slamming shut behind her. The engine roared to life, and the van sped away, leaving the quiet evening streets behind.

Pedestrians who had witnessed the abduction stood frozen in shock, their faces pale and frightened. But as the van disappeared into the distance, they seemed to snap out of their trance. Instead of calling for help or chasing after the van, they turned and ran, scattering in all directions.

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